The Jess Connolly Podcast

This week on the Go + Tell Gals Podcast, we’re sharing this conversation with our friend, Bethny Ricks. What happens when your mission shifts? How do you follow Him well into the new spaces He’s calling you to? Bethny is exactly the friend we want to talk to about this. Bethny is a mother, a woman of prayer, and an encourager. She’s a former business executive, and now, she writes and speaks, using what she’s been given to encourage women. She’s incredibly talented and gifted. We’re so grateful for how she runs on mission! In this episode, we’re talking all about mission and what to do when it shifts. A lot of times, we think we know what God is doing and exactly what we’re called to. When really, we’re not God, God is God, and He controls all things. We’re talking about hearing God say “go” and following the call that He has for you. We’re talking about rest and leading. We’re talking about how Bethny kept her purpose and mission, even when walking through her recent divorce. We pray this episode will encourage you today. God is mighty in you, friends - keep going. And, if you haven't heard yet, IF:Lead 2021 is coming up so soon - August 7! Digital passes are on sale now at iflead2021.com, and they start at just $29. Head to iflead2021.com to save your spot!

Calling all hair stylists, baristas, college students, and women using what they’ve got, whether you’re in vocational ministry or not: THIS CONVERSATION IS FOR YOU. When our friend Cassandra Speer was in Charleston, we sat down together to record a conversation for the podcast and we are pumped to share this episode with you today. Cass is a woman on mission, using exactly what she’s been given for the good of others and the glory of God. We’re so grateful for her. Cass is a mom, a friend, a former hairstylist, and the current Director of Operations at Her True Worth. She worked as a hairstylist for 10 years before leaving the field to share her words, her stories, and the hope of Jesus with women. She’s coined the phrase “hard and holy” to remind herself and all of us that it’s all for His glory. She uses her shop, the Hard + Holy Shop, to equip us with apparel that reminds us of truth and of God’s goodness. In this episode, we’re talking about mission and about what it means to shift your mission. We’re talking about typical rhythms during this season. We’re talking about fighting defeat and looking for God in the hardships. God is mighty in you today, and we hope these words help you to keep running on mission. A note: the audio on this episode got a little funky, and we’re so sorry about that. This episode was so good that we couldn’t not share it with you. We pray that even through the sound difficulties, this episode encourages and equips you today.

How do we embrace our own stories, even when they’re full of brokenness? How can we find God in the fractured spaces? How do you remember and retell the goodness of God? And how do we lament with fellow believers that are also walking through brokenness?  We sat down with one of our favorite gals, Ellie Holcomb, to talk through this, and friends, this was one of our favorite conversations ever. Ellie is leading with vulnerability, strength, and grace. She is showing up and doing the work of seeking God. This episode left us all incredibly encouraged, and we just know that you will love it, too. In case you haven’t met her yet, Ellie is a wife, a mom, a singer, a songwriter, and an author. Her new album, CANYON, is out now, and we cannot quit it in the office - it’s so good! In CANYON, Ellie is taking her experience of the last year and singing the goodness of God over it. This album (and this conversation) is a timely, God-honoring gift. Listen in, be encouraged. We pray this episode blesses you today.

When we ended this interview, we already could not wait to share this episode with you. If you are tired and weary today, this episode is a soft place to land. We’re sitting down with our friend Ruth Chou Simons, and we know that she will speak life into you today. Ruth is a wife and a mom to 6 boys. She is also an author, an artist, an entrepreneur, a speaker, and the founder of GraceLaced. In this conversation, we’re talking all about grace and how it is so much more than we tend to believe. We’re talking about mission, the power of telling your story, and even a bit about being an Asian American woman in America today. Oh, and we’re also talking all about Ruth’s upcoming book, When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement, which is available for preorder now. We are wildly encouraged by this conversation, and we are incredibly grateful for Ruth’s voice and her wisdom. Listen in. And if this episode encourages and equips you today, we would love to hear it - be sure to tag us on social media as you share how you’re listening. Ps - Jess’s new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame, is available NOW wherever books are sold, and the GATG Shop is fully stocked with the Breaking Free from Body Shame collection. For you, our listeners, if you leave us a review between now and the end of June 2021, you’ll have the opportunity to win some of this incredible merch. Once you fill out your review, head to this link to let us know + get entered. Thanks, gal!

As we head into this summer, we want to equip you with some tools to help you keep running on mission while also setting helpful expectations during this season. In this episode, we’re letting you in on all of our tendencies and how we are shifting to find God well during these months where the pace has shifted. Whether it’s stepping away from social media for a few days (or weeks), establishing phases to keep yourself or your family on track, or making summer playlists, we’re talking all about what what we’re believing will bless us, our families, and others this summer and how we can honor God with our time this summer. And we would love to hear: what summer rhythms are helping you? What’s working for you? What do you want this summer? What summer phases will you set this summer? What are your summer boundaries? Tell us everything over on our Instagram feed. We can’t wait to cheer you on! Plus, to end this episode, we’ve got a special bonus for you. Listen in! THIS EPISODES LINKS: Get all the details on Hope Heals Camp here. The Rhythms e-course will help you evaluate your rhythms as a whole, while the Summer to Thrive guide will equip you to make the most of the season at hand. We know both resources will leave you feeling grateful for your life and ready to steward it well. Join The Rhythms e-course waitlist to receive an exclusive discount code in your inbox before the bundle goes live on July 1! Learn more about revenge bedtime procrastination.

Today’s episode is a bit of a different episode. While we typically host other women running on mission on the podcast, today, our very own Jess Connolly is reading us a chapter of her brand new book, Breaking Free From Body Shame. Listen in for Chapter 3: Renaming What The World Has Labeled Less Than. Breaking Free From Body Shame is available for preorder now - the physical copy or the audiobook, and we’re counting down the days until the June 22, 2021 release. When you preorder one copy of the book, you get to join the Good Body Gals community, and two copies gets you the Body Shame Detox for free. For all the details and to claim your preorder bonuses, head to jessconnolly.com. We hope that this sneak peek into the book encourages you today. We are praying that God would help you to rename what the world might have mislabeled. Your body is good. If you need a friend to talk to, a shoulder to lean on, someone to throw prayers up to the God that loves you, or anything else, team Go + Tell Gals wants to be your gal. You can reach us by emailing podcast@goandtellgals.com, and we would love to help however we can.

We are jumping right in with this episode. We’re talking about everything from doubt and unbelief to making a home to Church hurt to using your words to creativity to holiness. We sat down with our friend and one of your most-requested guests, Jackie Hill Perry, to discuss her upcoming book and soak up some of her incredible wisdom. We finished this conversation and just said wow because we were all so encouraged. We know this episode will bless you today. In case you don’t know her already, Jackie is a wife, mother, author, speaker, and poet. She uses all she’s got - words, design, the Bible, and a fierce love of God - to lead others towards Him. Her upcoming book, Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him, releases in August 2021, and our team is counting down the days. If this conversation is any indication of the incredible wisdom to come in her book, count us in! We pray this conversation leaves you encouraged and equipped to run on mission today. God is mighty in you. Let’s go! Ps - in case you haven’t heard, Jess’s new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame, releases on June 22, 2021 - head here to preorder the book! To get you ready for the launch, the GATG Shop is fully stocked with the Breaking Free from Body Shame collection. For you, our listeners, if you leave us a review between now and the end of June 2021, you’ll have the opportunity to win some of this incredible merch. Once you fill out your review, head to this link to let us know + get entered. Thanks, gal! Grab Safe People by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend here. Preorder Jackie’s upcoming book here. Preorder Jess’s upcoming book here.

Friends - you are in for a LIFE-GIVING conversation with this episode. Whether you’re the CEO, the barista, the hairstylist, the blogger, or the grad school student, this conversation with our friend Carlos Whittaker (the second male to ever be on the podcast!) will equip and encourage you to use your gifts right where you’re at. Carlos is an author, speaker, and “hope dealer”, using his gifts to shine light in all the spaces he occupies. Carlos is married to Heather, who we all adore - be sure to follow her if you’re not already! In this episode, we’re talking about how to influence others well to the glory of God and going obediently in the direction He has called you. Listen in. Be encouraged. Then take your hope into a broken world. God is mighty in you, keep going! Ps - in case you haven’t heard, Jess’s new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame, releases on June 22, 2021 - head here to preorder the book! To get you ready for the launch, the GATG Shop is fully stocked with the Breaking Free from Body Shame collection. For you, our listeners, if you leave us a review between now and the end of June 2021, you’ll have the opportunity to win some of this incredible merch. Once you fill out your review, head to this link to let us know + get entered. Thanks, gal!

Friends! Since we recently relaunched the podcast with a brand new cohost (Kennesha!) and a brand new producer (Brenna!), we wanted to host an Ask Us Anything episode so that you could get to know our team a bit more. You - our listeners - submitted questions, and we loved getting to answer them! In this episode, we’re talking about mission in the “ordinary” days. We’re talking boundaries with technology. We’re jumping into how to wait + rest well. We’re touching on Sabbath, motherhood (be sure to listen to the GATG podcast episode with Cheryl Luke for more), and fighting discouragement. Plus, we’re each sharing some things we’re currently loving, linked below. Listen in. We pray this conversation leaves you equipped to keep running, right where you’re at. God is mighty in you, gal. Let’s go! Kennesha is loving: Malt Oak Milk Eminence facial oil Jess is loving: Kopari natural deodorant Brenna is loving: Sinful Colors Endless Blue nail polish The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble Dermalogica Precleanse oil

For this week’s episode, our friend and the incredible worship leader Melodie Malone joined us for a conversation on mission, creativity, and living a life of one long, obedient response. Melodie is a worship leader at Passion City Church. She’s passionate about the Bible and about listening to the Holy Spirit. She believes that God has a great invitation for all of us: to not just find Him in the church and in the expected spaces but in the every day and the unexpected. Yes and amen. In this episode, we’re talking about daily obedience to God, why being in the Word constantly matters, and how being dependent on God is the best thing for us. We’re asking God to help make our lives one long, obedient response (Psalm 119 MSG). We’re also giving you some questions to talk about with your community to help connect both you and them to God. We pray this conversation encourages and equips you to run on mission today, right where you’re at. Want to chat? Email us at podcast@goandtellgals.com.